A ‘Carib Queen’ Dies in T&T

Jennifer Cassar, who in 2011 was elected Carib queen of Santa Rosa First Peoples Community in Trinidad and Tobago, died last month after a brief illness.

Cassar was 66.

She succeeded Valentina Medina who died at the age of 78, and served as queen until the time of her death.

A statement from the Santa Rosa First Peoples’ Community said Cassar would be remembered as “a very warm, humble and compassionate Queen of the Community, who worked tirelessly with the young Community members.

“She has been a cultural activist for over 20 years and her advocacy for the Arts will be greatly missed,” it added.

Carib Chief Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez described Cassar’s passing as a great loss to the community, especially coming on the eve of the Santa Rosa De Lima Festival on Aug. 26, the 223rd anniversary of the festival.

“She was indeed a queen, for our time,” she said.

Queen Cassar is survived by her husband Augustin Cassar, a retired school principal and Cadet Force officer, and children Vanessa Cassar-Blakely and John Cassar.